(Editor's Note: From time-to-time this column presents
profiles about people born and raised in Fostoria who have been successful
in their careers. Often, these profiles have been about mature individuals,
who had already reached the pinnacle of success, not about those who
are achieving and still progressing. Today's profile is about a younger
former Fostorian whi is in the latter category).

James L. Crow, was born Nov. 17, 1933 to Otto and Anna
Crow in Fostoria.

Part of his early schooling was in Columbus, but he returned
here where Jim received his high school education, graduating in 1951.

During Jim's years at FHS, he was on the football team,
when Dick Small was head coach. Playing at guard, even though not a
large boy, he was named the most valuable player in 1951, the same year
he was captain.

Jim was a good student and active in school affairs, according
to the records He was a member of the Tr-Delta Chapter of HI-Y his last
three years; class treasurer during his junior yearl football last three
on the HI-Y Council; Art Club last three years; National Honor Society
in his senior year.

His interest in art, which goes back to his childhood
led him to his present profession, which I'll discuss later. His sister,
Mrs. Harold (Lucille) Hemrick, 632 Fostoria St. told me that as a boy
her younger brother was always drawing and playing with molding clay.
She recalls that his materials always cluttered the library table on
which they studied and worked. Back then, when the older children in
the family pushed him around, Jim would say "You'll be sorry when I
grow up and am famous". That's the spirit for success.

ART MAJOR - WOOSTER

In the fall of 1951, Jim entered Wooster College. I suspect
that his record as a football player at FHS was relayed to the Athelic
Department at Wooster through Virgil "Poody" Switzer, a graduate of
that college and then editor of The Review Times.

The following letter from Phil Shipe, retired football
coach at The College of Wooster, provides an accurate description of
Crow's record as athlete and student there:

Paul H. Krupp:

"I have been asked to respond to your letter of Dec. 15
concerning Jim L. Crow. James Crow was recruited in 1951 to come to
The College of Wooster. 1951 was the last year that off-campus recruiting
was permitted by the Ohio Athletic Conference. I remember talking to
his parents in their little grocery store in Fostoria".

"Jim Corw only weighed 157 pounds (and this was still
his weight four years later when he graduated from Wooster) and he was
a lineman. Pound for pound, blood drop for blood-drop, and ounce for
ounce in intelligence, he had to be one of the finest football players
I ever had anything to do with. He combined all this with the not too
common qualities of being a good student and a gentleman".

"During the four years that Jim played for Wooster we
had the following records: 1951 - 6-3; 1952 - 7-1-1; 1953 - 5-1-1; and
1954 - 6-3. Jim played offensive tackle for The College of Wooster and
was not given any honors except by the Wooster coaching staff. We rated
him an outstanding lineman due to the fact that he did more with leverage
and intelligence, which he needed to do because of his size. He was
a great factor in four successful winning season for Wooster. His ability
in art in college and after college is well- known. When I look back
over 27 years of coaching high school and college athletes in football,
I consider Jim Crow, in all qualities that a man should be measured
by, as one of the finest".

Art Murray, on the editorial staff at The Fostoria Daily
Review many years ago, and later in the Athletic Department at Wooster,
saw to it that Switzer received publicity about Crow's achievements
for the hometown fans.

Jim graduated from Wooster in 1955 with a BA degree in
art. That same year he went to work for Central Press Association, King
Features Syndicate, Cleveland.

From 1956-1961, he worked at American Greeting Card Corp.,
Cleveland, as senior professional artist, art supervisor and litho proofreader.

Jim became a free-lance artist from 1961-1973, doing work
for American Greeting Card Corp., Rust Craft, U.S. Playing Card. Whitman
Publishing Co., Stan Craft, Brown & Bigelow and Designs Limited.

Jim also worked at The Times Reporter, New Philadelphia,
as reporter, art director and staff artist from 1973-1979.

Crow's work in oils, acrylics and water colors has been
exhibited at Cleveland May Show; Butler Institure of Art, Canton, and
Ohio State Fair.

OWN HORSE FARM

But, with the success he already had earned as a commercial
artist, Jim wanted to have more freedom from schedules and deadlines.
He had become an ardent producer of artwork featuring horses. In July
1979, driving near Lexington, KY, Jim and his wife Molley saw a nine-acre
horse farm for sale. It had a brick ranch home and red barn, overlooking
Herrington Lake, near Burgin. They bought it and took the first step
to achieve the dreams of both of them.

I like all types of art, Crow said, but painting horses
is my love, and it seemed like the way to go. Jim's wife is a horse
trainer and their two daughters, Tammy 23, lived in Lexington and works
for Pendelton Farm as head groomer. Tracy, 21 is a groom for Bill Becker
Saddlehorse Stable, Concord, N.C. and her ambition is to become a trainer
like her mother.

WIFE IS HORSE TRAINER

Jim and Molley met at Wooster College. she is also a riding
instructor. When the Crow's lived at New Philiadelphia, she operated
the Four T Farm for eight years. It was a family operation, with everyone
participating, including Jim.

Now the Crows are settled on their Kentucky farm and continue
to operate their Four T Farm. I asked Jim, how the farm came to be called
by that name. I twas easy to explain...they have four children and all
their names start with "T" Ted, a staff artist with Times-Reporter,
New Philadelphia; Tom, working on his master's degree at Marshall, in
education; Tammy and Tracy.

Four T now breeds and sells American saddlebred horses
on a small scale. They have a stallion and three mares, and their first
colt crop was last spring.

According to an article appearing in The Kentucky Advocate,
part of which is excerpted with permission:

HORSES HAVE PERSONALITY

Crow's predominate challenge is capturing a horse's personality
on canvas. Each horse is an individual and the clue to that is in their
eyes. I have to see their eyes closeup, then I feel confident I can
do a good job, Crow says.

Crow says if he has to paint the horse from a photography
without actually seeing the animal, he can do everything right, except
capturing the personality is a question mark. To get the action of the
horse corrected he tries to use a real-life sitting plus a photograph.
Crow makes a polariod photograph so he can match the animal's true color
and texture directly to the paint he selects to use on the canvas. The
color and personality of the horse are the hardest to capture. If they
are not right, then he could be any horse, says Crow.

A highly detail painting usually requires 40-50 hours
of Crow's skilled attention. His paintings and sketches range from $200
to $4,000.